Attribute level federation from multiple data sources

Abstract

A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for retrieving data. The process identifies a class type for the requested attribute data to form an identified class type in response to receiving a request for attribute data for a configuration item from a client. The process generates a set of data windows associated with the identified class type. Each data window in the set of data windows provides availability information for attribute data available from a remote data source. The process attribute data associated with each data window in the set of data windows to form a set of attribute data. The process sends the set of attribute data to the client

1 . A computer implemented method for retrieving data, the computer implemented method comprising:
 responsive to receiving a request for attribute data for a configuration item from a client, identifying a class type for the requested attribute data to form an identified class type;   generating a set of data windows associated with the identified class type, and wherein each data window in the set of data windows provides availability information for attribute data available from a remote data source;   retrieving attribute data associated with each data window in the set of data windows to form a set of attribute data; and   sending the set of attribute data to the client   
   
   
       2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein the step of retrieving attribute data further comprises:
 retrieving attribute data from a plurality of remote data sources based on the availability information; and   integrating the attribute data from the plurality of data sources into a single set of attribute data.   
   
   
       3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 responsive to identifying overlapping attribute data values associated with two different data windows, retrieving a policy that specifies a rank for each data window; and   selecting an attribute data value from a data window having a highest rank and discarding an attribute data value from a data window having a lowest rank based on the policy.   
   
   
       4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein generating a list of data windows further comprises:
 identifying a set of specified attributes in the request from the client; and   selecting data windows associated with the class type and the set of specified attributes to form the list of data windows.   
   
   
       5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  wherein retrieving attribute data further comprises:
 retrieving attribute data values associated with the identified class type and a specified attribute, wherein a specified attribute is an attribute of a class type specified in the request from the client.   
   
   
       6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 processing an extensible markup language file to load a plug-in at a server, wherein the plug-in generates a data window associated with a remote data source.   
   
   
       7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 generating a data window map, wherein the data window map provides information regarding a configuration item and attribute objects associated with every data window in a plurality of data windows.   
   
   
       8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 identifying each data window associated with the class type and an attribute type specified in the request to form the list of data windows, wherein each data window associated with the class type and the attribute type specified in the request is identified by checking the data window map.   
   
   
       9 . A data processing system comprising:
 a bus system;   a communications system connected to the bus system;   a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory comprises computer usable program code; and a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to identify a class type for the requested attribute data to form an identified class type in response to receiving a request for attribute data for a configuration item from a client; generate a set of data windows associated with the identified class type, and wherein each data window in the set of data windows provides availability information for attribute data available from a remote data source; retrieve attribute data associated with each data window in the set of data windows to form a set of attribute data; and send the set of attribute data to the client.   
   
   
       10 . The data processing system of  claim 9  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to retrieve attribute data from a plurality of remote data sources based on the availability information; and integrate the attribute data from the plurality of data sources into a single set of attribute data. 
   
   
       11 . The data processing system of  claim 9  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to retrieve a policy that specifies a rank for each data window in response to identifying overlapping attribute data values associated with two different data windows; and select an attribute data value from a data window having a highest rank and discard an attribute data value from a data window having a lowest rank based on the policy. 
   
   
       12 . The data processing system of  claim 9  wherein the processor unit further executes the computer usable program code to generate a data window map, wherein the data window map provides information regarding a configuration item and attribute objects associated with every data window in a plurality of data windows 
   
   
       13 . A computer program product comprising:
 a computer usable medium including computer usable program code for retrieving data, said computer program product comprising:   computer usable program code for identifying a class type for the requested attribute data to form an identified class type in response to receiving a request for attribute data for a configuration item from a client;   computer usable program code for generating a set of data windows associated with the identified class type, and wherein each data window in the set of data windows provides availability information for attribute data available from a remote data source;   computer usable program code for retrieving attribute data associated with each data window in the set of data windows to form a set of attribute data; and   computer usable program code for sending the set of attribute data to the client.   
   
   
       14 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for retrieving attribute data from a plurality of data sources based on the availability information; and   computer usable program code for integrating the attribute data from the plurality of data sources into a single set of attribute data.   
   
   
       15 . The computer program product of  claim 14  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for retrieving a policy that specifies a rank for each data window in response to identifying overlapping attribute data values associated with two different data windows; and   computer usable program code for selecting an attribute data value from a data window having a highest rank and discarding an attribute data value from a data window having a lowest rank based on the policy.   
   
   
       16 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for identifying a set of specified attributes in the request from the client; and   computer usable program code for selecting data windows associated with the class type and the set of specified attributes to form the list of data windows.   
   
   
       17 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for retrieving attribute data values associated with the identified class type and a specified attribute, wherein a specified attribute is an attribute of a class type specified in the request from the client.   
   
   
       18 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for processing an extensible markup language file to load a plug-in at a server, wherein the plug-in generates a data window associated with a remote data source.   
   
   
       19 . The computer program product of  claim 13  further comprising:
 computer usable program code for generating a data window map, wherein the data window map provides information regarding a configuration item and attribute objects associated with every data window in a plurality of data windows.   
   
   
       20 . A system for retrieving data, the system comprising:
 a server controller for receiving a request for attribute data for a configuration item from a client to form requested attribute data, wherein the request identifies a class type for the requested attribute data to form an identified class type;   a plug-in installation engine, wherein the plug-in installation engine generates a set of data windows associated with the identified class type, and wherein each data window in the set of data windows provides availability information for attribute data available from a remote data source; and   a configuration management database manager, wherein the configuration management database manager retrieves attribute data associated with a remote data source having attribute data for the class type; and wherein the server controller sends the set of attribute data to the client.